Ammunition-case.



m.- 693,336. I Patanted Fgb. u, I902.

W. RHODES. Aunummu CASE. (Appliclflon and Dec. 18, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

RHODES.

AMMUNITION CASE.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1900.)

No. 693,336. Pat onted Feb. ll, I902.

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YVESLEY RHODES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF- NINE-SIXTEENTHS TO GEORGE P. WVILSON AND GEORGE T. TURNER, OF PHILA- DELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

AMMUNITION-CASE.

SEECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,336, dated February1 1, 1902.

Application filed December 18,1900. gerial No. 40,305. (No modeL IOments in cases, boxes, or tanks for containing ammunition for naval orfield service.

The object of my invention is to provide a,

receptacle of non-combustible material which will withstand rough usageto which it is subjected and which will be perfectly water, spark, anddust proof. This object I attain in the following manner, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a verticalsectional view of an ammunition-case, showing the shells in position andillustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a. plan view of Fig. l with thecover removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a powder-tank. Fig. 4is a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views ofmodifications of my invention.

Prior to my invention the cases, boxes, and tanks for containingammunition were'made of metal or wood, either plain or metal-lined.Wooden cases lined with metal are preferable in the navy, as thereshould be no contact between metal and metal in delivering the chargefrom the magazine to the guns; but the use of wood is objectionable,owing to the fact that it is inflammable, and it is not water or dustproof and readily splinters.

When a metallic case is used, the ammunition-hoist must be lined withwood, which is very objectionable, and great care must be 40 exercisedin the magazine; Furthermore, the

metallic case is liable to be indented, causing the shells to stick inthe case.

It has been found that smokeless powder.

when stored away gives off inflammable gases, so that any sparks arisingfrom defective electrical wiring or from the friction of the mechanismof the ammunition-hoist or in the magazine may cause explosions in themagazine or hoist and thus endanger the ship.

By my invention I overcome the above ob- 5 jections, and I make a caseor box that has the ad vantage of being non-combustible, water, fire,and dust proof, at the same time light and strong, and which cannot besplintered. The non-splintering feature is a great advantage, as thepresent wooden structures in deck or field service are often splinteredby stray shots, and these splinters do great damage.

Referring in the first instance to Fig. 1', A is the casing. B is a bodyportion, of asbestos or equivalent material, having a metallic ring a atits upper end and a metallic basering ct at its lower end. The two ringsare preferably secured together by vertical bars 6 or rods o Both ringsa a. are flanged, as shown, and the lower ring a has an internal flangea upon which is mounted the bottom B, of asbestos or similar material.The ring ahas preferablyan internal screw-thread and has suitable earsto which the carrying-rope 0 may be attached. D is a cap having aflanged rim d and a body at of asbestos or other suitable material. Thiscap is threaded and is arranged to screw into the threaded ring a of thecasing.

Within the shell-carrying case at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 1, is aring E, of asbestos, forming the shell-point protector, and nearthe'upper'end of the casing is a disk 6, also of asbestos, havingopenings for the passage of the shells. This disk is supported by asuitable ring 6, secured to the casing. In Figs. -1 and 2 I have shownthe'shells in position within the casing having their points protected.When the cover is applied, the shells are thoroughly protected, thecasing being non-combustible, Water, air, and dust proof, a non-conduc'tor of heat, and incapable of being splintered, audit is alsolight and go cheap to manufacture. The casing, moreover, can besubstantially constructed for stowage and to withstand all handlingthrough powder-magazines to hoists and on decks to guns without damageto the contents.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a powdertank used for carrying a charge ofpowder. This powder-tank is made with ashell of asbestos or equivalentmaterial A, having a lining a of copper or other suitable metal. Thislining is secured to a bottom plate and a cap-ring,and the lining andasbestos body may be secured together in any suitable manner.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a shell-case C, which is of the ordinary form,being made of metal and closed by a metallic bottom Z) and a removablemetallic cap I). I simply place over this case a shell of asbestos orother equivalent non-conducting material 13 and rivet the shell to themetallic case by countersunk rivets, as shown.

In Fig. 6 I have shown abox or case in which the metal casing or rodsare dispensed with, the entire casing being made of ashestos B andsecured to a bottom plate I) and a top ring 12 the removable cap beingscrewed into or otherwise fastened to the top ring.

I have shown in the drawings one form of box having a movable cap at oneend only; but it will be understood that both the bottom and top capsmay be removable and the container may be of any shape, according to thecharacter of the ammunition for which it is intended.

In some instances the asbestos casing may lie-made in strips secured toa metallic lining by rivets or other means of attachment; but I preferto use when practicable a solid cylindrical body, as it is a muchstronger and much more economical casin In Fig. 7 I have shown a caseinwhich the asbestos or other non-conducting material B is molded around aframe of wire t, and the bottom t", top t and cap are made of induratedfiber.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a new article of manufacture, anammunition-case, consisting of a bottom or base section, a topring-section, a shell or casing proper of asbestos to which the top andbottom sections are secured, and a detachable cover adapted to the topring-section, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an aim munition-case, consisting ofa bottom or base section, a top ring-section, both of which are filledor lined with asbestos, a shell or casing proper of asbestos to whichthe top and bottom sections are secured, a support for said shell orcasing, and a detachable cover adapted to the top ring-section,substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an ammunition-case, consisting of abottom or base section, a top ring-section, each of said sections havingannular flanges, a shell or casing proper of asbestos to which the topand bottom sections are secured, the ends of said shell being disposedbetween the flanges of said sections, and a detachable cover adapted tothe top ring-section, substantially as described.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an ammunition-case of the characterdescribed for holding loaded shells, consisting of the bottom or basesection, the top ring-section, both of which are filled or lined withasbestos, a guiding and supporting block of asbestos for the ends of theshells carried by the bottom section a detachable cover adapted to thetop ring-section, a shell or casing proper of asbestos suitablysupported and interposed between the top and bottom sections, and aguiding-ring perforated for the passage of the shells fitting the innerwall of the casing near the top of the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WESLEY RHODES.

\Vitnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, Jos. H. KLEIN.

